Chapter 1436 - 1435: The Eerie Mist

Chapter 1436: Chapter 1435: The Eerie Mist

"What purpose does the Cloud Monarch have in leaving this poisonous mist to shroud the entire palace?"

Ling Chen found it hard to understand. They had gone through countless hardships and had almost wrestled their way into the palace from the entire Yingzhou Martial Arts World, only to find this kind of situation. If it had been someone else, they might not only lose their strength but also face a great blow to their spirit, leading to a complete collapse of will and a slow death within this palace.

"This is most likely a test from the Cloud Monarch for us."

The Cyan-robed Guest remained devoid of emotion, seemingly oblivious to the dire situation. Even Ling Chen, who prided himself on his calm demeanor, couldn’t help but admit that he was inferior in maintaining such composure.

"The Cloud Monarch is a legendary figure who has lived for thousands of years; his wisdom is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. To accept his legacy, the first requirement is to possess a profound yet humble mind, maintaining this ordinary state of mind in any environment. Only then can one perceive things more clearly than common people."

said the Cyan-robed Guest calmly.

Upon hearing this, Ling Chen couldn’t help but nod slightly. He felt the Cyan-robed Guest made sense, and he realized he had been too hasty. From the moment he entered the palace, he had been eager to find the Cloud Monarch’s legacy quickly.

Taking a deep breath, Ling Chen worked to calm his mind.

Once his mind cleared, Ling Chen ignored the erosion of the True Qi within, relaxing his muscles to the extreme. With complete tranquility, he walked forward step by step.

The Cyan-robed Guest glanced at Ling Chen, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes. He knew Ling Chen was exceptionally talented but hadn’t expected him to grasp the situation so quickly and enter this state.

A few minutes after the two of them moved through the mist, a muffled sound, "bang," was heard. Behind Ling Chen, Hong Ye couldn’t withstand the corrosive mist. After gritting her teeth and holding on for a while, she finally collapsed powerlessly to the ground.

"Master, you don’t need to worry about me."

Hong Ye bit her lip. She knew she couldn’t drag Ling Chen down at this time, but the True Qi within her was nearly depleted, making it impossible to continue.

Frowning slightly, Ling Chen turned and walked toward Hong Ye, saying indifferently, "Can you still stand up?"

Hong Ye struggled a bit, trying to get up from the ground. However, after several attempts, she ultimately couldn’t stand.

"I’m afraid not."

Hong Ye shook her head, "Master, you go ahead. As long as you can withstand the Cloud Monarch’s test, I’ll be fine."

But Ling Chen remained unmoved, extending his hand, "Give me your hand."

"Master."

Hong Ye was stunned, but under Ling Chen’s unwavering gaze, she still extended her jade-like hand.

Ling Chen grasped her soft, jade-like hand, bent his body slightly, and amidst a low exclamation, lifted her tender body in his arms, then turned and walked slowly into the depths of the mist.

"Kid, you’re barely holding up yourself, and you still take care of a maid?"

Seeing this, the Cyan-robed Guest couldn’t help but sneer, obviously finding Ling Chen’s action incomprehensible.

In this mysterious mist, their internal energy was depleting moment by moment. Saving some would mean they could endure a bit longer here. Yet Ling Chen chose to carry this burden, wasting his strength, which undoubtedly accelerated his energy drain, leading to a faster demise.

"My people, I won’t abandon them lightly."

Ling Chen responded calmly, but this moved Hong Ye’s heart. At such a time, Ling Chen was still so concerned about her, which touched her deeply. Her current status was just a maid by Ling Chen’s side; if it were someone else, they might be eager to humiliate her. Yet Ling Chen truly considered her his own, which had always been the case and was now evident more than ever.

Meeting someone like this, dying together with him here—what could be regrettable about that?

With this thought, she proactively stretched out her arms, like lotus roots, to embrace Ling Chen’s waist, resting her head against his chest, and calmly closed her eyes.

Ling Chen naturally sensed Hong Ye’s movements. Her alluring soft body, emitting a tempting fragrance, would make any man lose control. But at present, Ling Chen had no desire to pay attention to these things. His focus was on the interior of this palace. Though his heart was clear now, if there was no progress soon, they were likely to be drained to death here. Once their True Qi was completely exhausted, their bodies would collapse entirely, decaying in the palace.

Could it be that the Cloud Monarch never intended to leave his legacy to anyone?

If so, then today, the three of them wouldn’t leave here alive.

However, just as Ling Chen carried Hong Ye, with lingering concerns, the thick fog within the palace suddenly surged intensely. Ling Chen looked forward, and with the mist clearing, a large altar emerged.

"Huh?"

Seeing this scene, both Ling Chen and the Cyan-robed Guest’s eyes brightened. The appearance of the altar undoubtedly gave them hope in this desperate situation.

Around this altar, various incense candles and talismans were inserted. The ground of the altar was inscribed with an eye-catching Array Pattern, covering the entire altar.

Behind the altar stood a hundred-zhang tall copper statue, identical to the stone statue outside the Central Shrine, unmistakably the Cloud Monarch.

In front of the altar were several meditation cushions, seemingly prepared long in advance, conveniently three in number.

"This Cloud Monarch sure loves to play tricks."

Even the Cyan-robed Guest now had a faint trace of joy on his face. Had it continued, even someone as strong as him wouldn’t hold on much longer.

But having persevered through the darkness, they finally emerged on the other side. Yet, it seemed the Cloud Monarch’s test for them was not over.

"What follows must be the true test."

Ling Chen put down Hong Ye, exchanged glances with the Cyan-robed Guest, then walked to the central meditation cushion and sat down slowly.

The Cyan-robed Guest and Hong Ye sat cross-legged on the meditation cushions to the left and right, closing their eyes one after the other.

The strange fog from before was likely a test deliberately designed by the Cloud Monarch for those entering the palace. Only those who passed the first test were eligible to see this altar and accept the true test from the Cloud Monarch.